Significance of the 7th postoperative day neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer

Purpose High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation and is associated with poor survival in localized or metastatic cancer. Preoperative NLR in colorectal cancer reportedly correlates with recurrence-free survival and is useful as a recurrence prediction factor. No reports have yet investigated recurrence factors using postoperative NLR. This study assessed the predictive value of NLR preoperatively and on the first (NLR1) and seventh day (NLR7) postoperatively in patients with stage II colorectal cancer.